LTA, public transport operators join anti-vaping effort with stepped-up enforcement

Those caught vaping will be removed from public transport premises and reported

- Claudia Tan and Zaihan Mohamed Yusof

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has warned that commuters caught vaping will be removed from public transport premises, and the police may be called in for those found to be intoxicated.

LTA, which announced stepped-up enforcement efforts in a Facebook post on Aug 18, is the latest to join agencies including the Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Education and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in tackling the vaping menace in Singapore.

LTA said: "Our station staff are on active patrol to keep our public transport spaces safe and smoke-free. Anyone caught vaping will be removed from the premises and reported to authorities.

"For those found intoxicated, police may be called in too."

Recent video footage of different incidents have shown a national serviceman, a teenager and a woman vaping on public buses and MRT trains. All three appeared intoxicated in the videos.

In a separate incident on Aug 10, a man was caught on video shoving SMRT staff at Lakeside Station after he was spotted using an e-vaporiser.

SMRT on Aug 18 issued a statement on its Facebook page reminding commuters that vaping is illegal in Singapore and strictly banned on the SMRT-operated public transport network.

SMRT said it enforces a zero-tolerance policy, adding that it will not hesitate to report offenders to the relevant authorities.